It's My Baby Chapter 3

Feeling a light touch on her shoulder, Kaitlin jerked up right, fighting the urge not to scream, her heart feeling like it was going to jump right out of her chest.  Struggling to quickly get to her feet, she bumped her head on the overhead baggage compartment.  “Ouch,” Kaitlin grumbled as she sank back down on the seat, rubbing her head and trying to calm her racing heart.  In the middle of all this chaos, the baby began a kicking frenzy.  Kaitlin did not know if she should rub the top of her head, try to calm her racing heart, calm the baby down, or try to do all three.  Taking several deep breaths, she felt her racing heart slowing down as she gently rubbed her stomach, trying to ignore the headache that was beginning to take hold.

“I am so sorry mam,” the soft grandfatherly voice of the bus driver said apologetic.  “I did not mean to give you such a fright.  Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she told him in between deep breaths.  “Where are we?”

“We are in Wheeling, West Virginia,”  he told her.  “This is where you have a thirty minute layover before you change buses.”

Looking up at the driver, Kaitlin asked, “Don't you bus drivers just yell when you pull into the bus station the name of the station?”

“I did mam, but apparently you were in such a deep sleep that you did not hear me.” he explained. “If you hadn't need to change buses, I'd went and bought you some lunch and let you sleep.”

Reaching up, she placed her hand on the driver's wrist and said, “I am sorry that I was snappy.  I do appreciate you waking me.  Can I buy you lunch?”

“Thank you but I have to leave in ten minutes.”  he said as he reached out his hand.  “No need for an apology either.  Are you and the baby okay?”

Taking his outstretched hand, she let him help her to her feet, being very careful not to hit her head a second time. Reaching up, she rubbed the top of her head to see if she was bleeding.  “Yes, we are both okay so there was no harm done.”

Leading the way up the aisle, he went down the bus steps first, then turned to offer her his hand.  Once she was safely standing on the bus platform, he stood nearby to make sure that she was not going to faint. 

“Let me get your bags and get you settled inside before I have to load my passengers and go on my next leg of the journey.” 

“My name is Kaitlin.  Can I ask what your name is?” she asked as she followed him into the bus station, not thinking that giving her real name could come back to bite her later.

“My name is Joe,” he said as he placed her bags beside a bench.  “You know Kaitlin, I have a daughter about your age.”

“Thank you for all your help.  Your daughter is very fortunate to have such a considerate dad.”  Kaitlin told him as she held out her hand.

They shook hands, then Joe asked, “I still have a few minutes.  Can I get you some lunch, chips, milk....?

“Thank you but I am not very hungry.  I may grab myself a couple of candy bars before I get on the next bus.”

“Alright then, I will be on my way.”  Joe said as he reached into his front pocket and pulled out an ink pen and small pad of paper.  Writing something down, he handed it to Kaitlin and said, “This is my cell number.  I know you are running from someone or something but if you ever need anything, give me a call and I will do what I can to help you.  I'd like to think if my daughter was in your situation someone would reach out a helpful hand to her.”

Taking the paper, she looked him straight in the eyes and said, “You're right, I am running from someone, but I am not going to tell you exactly who.  I will assure you that I am not running from an abusive husband or boyfriend.  The least you know, the better off you will be.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting to help but I am sure that your wife would not appreciate a strange women calling her husband's cell phone but I will keep it just in case.  It is really nice to have someone who cares.”

“I am a widower so you don't have to worry about a wife answering the phone”  Joe told her smiling.  “As I said before, I just hope if Rosa, my daughter, needed help a kind stranger would help her.  Take care of yourself and that little one Kaitlin.”  And with that, he headed back toward his bus.

Sighing, Katlin walked around the bench, getting a little exercise before she had to sit for several more hours.  Walking over to the snack bar, she bought a couple of Snickers, and a Peanut Butter Twix, a bag of chips, and a couple of cartons of milk.  Packing the chips and candy bars into her shoulder bag, she went back over to stand by her suitcases.  Opening one container of milk, she quickly drank it down, and threw the carton in the nearby trash bin, putting the other one in her purse. 

Glancing at her watch, she saw that she had ten minutes before it would be time to board the bus on her next leg of her journey, she dragged the suitcases to the restroom, knowing that for the next several hours the only restroom she would have would be the one on the bus. Just as she came out of the restroom Kaitlin her the announcer announcing the arrival of her bus, and the time left before it pulled out of the station.

Kaitlin wearily dragged the suitcases over to the departure door, tired but anxious to be on her way again.  The young driver took her ticket, gave it a quick look and handed it back to her, his mind already on the people behind her.

“Here, let me help you,” a deep voice said behind her as he grabbed her two suitcases and took them over to the baggage door.  “They look a little heavy to be trying to carry around.”

Fighting back the urge to snap at him and tell him that she did not need his help, Kaitlin forced a smile on her face and said, “Thank you.  That was much appreciated.”

Seeing him looking down at her left hand, Kaitlin was glad she had taken Julie's advice and bought a cheap wedding band before she left Boston.  She could remember Julie telling her that, unless the man was extremely bull headed and horny, one look at the wedding ring would deter useless conversation. 

“Your husband is a fool for letting his wife in your condition travel alone.”  he commented.  “By the way, my name is Paul.”

Without thinking, she held out her hand and said, “My name is Kaitlin.”  The moment that the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could take them back and give him a false name, one that was more common and less remember able.  This was twice she had blurted out her real name without thinking of the possible consequences.

Gently shaking her hand, Paul said, “Well, it's time to board.  Where are you headed?  I am headed for Oregon.”

This time Kaitlin thought before she said, “Arizona.”

Taking her gently by the elbow, he helped her up the first step, then followed her into the bus, following her down the aisle.  Trying to figure out how to get rid of her “Knight in Shinning Armour” without hurting his feelings, Kaitlin spotted an empty seat near the middle of the bus.  Turning toward Paul she said, “I hope you don't mind my not asking you to share my seat but I am a little tired and really not in the mood for company or conversation.”

“I totally understand.”  Paul told her.  “My sister was like that when she was pregnant, especially when she was in the last few months.”

Giving her a quick smile, Paul turned and headed back toward the front of the bus, looking for an empty seat.  Letting out a sign, Kaitlin settled down in her seat, wishing she had brought a light blanket on the bus with her. Thinking back to what she had told Paul about heading to Arizona, she found herself liking the idea of actually heading there.  While it did not have the oceans and beaches she craved, it did still have the warm temperatures she wanted.  Breaking into her thoughts the baby delivered a hard kick causing Kaitlin to inhale deeply and hold her stomach, more from shock than from pain, although it had hurt some. 

Knowing that she was approximately seven and a half months pregnant, she could only hope that this was a time when a new baby decided to come later than sooner.  She sure in the heck didn't want to have a baby on a Greyhound Bus headed west. 

“Are you okay?” 

Looking up, Kaitlin found herself staring into the concerned eyes of her rescuer earlier.  “Man, thought Kaitlin, “ he has the coolest baby blue eyes I have ever seen.”  Forcing her thoughts away from his eyes, she forced herself to smile and say, “Yeah.  I just got an unexpected kick from the baby.  Thank you for asking.”

“You are quite welcome.”

Realizing how much difference separated their seats, Kaitlin whispered, “Did I make that much noise that you heard me almost all the way to the front of the bus?”, worried that all the passengers on the bus had heard her.

“No, I was just on my way to the restroom when I heard a little moan and saw you double over.” Paul explained.  “I am not sure how far along you are and even though I am an intern, I really have not had any birthing experience.”

Not sure if he was serious or just trying to get her mind off the situation, Kaitlin giggled.  “Don't worry doctor, I am only seven and a half months along, and from what I know, most first babies make a late appearance, not an early one.”

“Sorry, I am not a doctor yet Kaitlin.  I still have over four years to go before I become an legitimate doctor.”  he told her.  “Now that I know you are okay, I will be on my way.”

And with that, he headed on toward the back of the bus to the restroom.  Sighing, Kaitlin realized that Paul was serious about being an intern on the way to be a doctor.  Taking the candy, chips, and container of milk out of her shoulder bag, Kaitlin put them on the seat next to her. using her shoulder bag as a pillow for the second time this trip.

Kaitlin did not was to fall asleep again because she wanted to be able to sleep tonight but she was so tired.  For some reason or other pregnancy seemed to sap her energy.  Hearing the restroom door open, Kaitlin quickly shut her eyes, pretending to sleep.  Once she was sure Paul was back in his seat, she slowly sat up, put her shoulder bag on her lap, and looked out the window at the passing countryside, wondering just how far she would be from Boston when she stopped traveling for the night.  No matter how she felt, she wanted to put at least 500 miles daily between each stop.  Kaitlin wanted to be at her destination, wherever that was, before she reached 8 months.

In spite of her hatred and distrust of men, Kaitlin could not help thinking about Paul's cool blue eyes, and his easy going ways...much like Randy was in the beginning of their relationship.

“Easy going now but probably an ass if you cross him...just like Randy,” Kaitlin thought to herself even though she knew in her heart and mind not all men were like Randy.  “No sense thinking about Paul because I sure in the hell don't need the complication of a relationship now.”

Making herself concentrate on the passing countryside and not on Paul's cool baby blue eyes, she soon found herself dozing off, her mind filling with the thoughts of her and Randy's last date.